De Zwarte Hond designed an energy-neutral building with a timber structure for Midwerk (Social Company for Work, Reintegration and Income) in Sappemeer. Previously, the organization operated from three outdated and poorly maintained locations.
The new building brings together all departments and functions under one roof, offering an accessible and pleasant environment for a diverse—and sometimes vulnerable—group of users. The integration of various functions was carefully considered in the design. Internally, the building is compact and efficiently organized, yet forms a cohesive whole. By thoughtfully separating and blending functions, the building provides both an inviting space for visitors and a comfortable working environment for staff. Positioned centrally on the plot, the building naturally and safely separates the public outdoor areas at the front from the logistics zone at the rear. The green, park-like front garden includes seating areas and parking for bicycles and cars. In addition to a compact and cost-efficient design, the project had high sustainability ambitions. The building is fully energy-neutral. A large proportion of the existing steel trusses have been reused. The existing concrete floors have been used as formwork for the new floors. This significantly reduces the CO2 footprint. The office area has been constructed in a demountable manner using wooden floors, trusses, and columns.
Less demolition
Instead of completely demolishing the existing building, a large part of the original steel trusses has been reused. The existing concrete floors serve as formwork for the new floors, significantly reducing the CO2 footprint. The office section is constructed using a demountable system of timber floors, beams and columns. The new building volume is realised in a biobased timber structure with columns, beams and hollow-core timber floor slabs. These exposed floors are filled with mass and sound-absorbing material, and thus contribute to good acoustics throughout the building. The wooden structure also gives a warm and natural appearance and contributes to a healthy working environment.
Achieving high sustainability ambitions
In addition to a compact and cost-efficient design, the project pursued ambitious sustainability goals. The building is fully energy neutral. The existing structure has been fitted with well-insulated new roofs and façades, which form a coherent whole with the new construction. Structural stability is ensured by slender steel bracing elements positioned strategically throughout the building and by diaphragm action within the floors, connecting individual floor elements. This results in flexible layouts that can adapt to future changes and contribute to the long-term viability of the building.
The façades are robustly executed in brick, meeting the requirement for a low-maintenance building. Large windows connect users with their surroundings and provide abundant daylight within the workspaces.The Final Design was developed in close collaboration with consultants. By overlaying and clash-testing the various IFC models, an integrated approach was adopted at an early stage to limit execution risks.
